Do You Do Your Own Oil Change?

[godmare]

I don't trust anybody to work on my car, you never know what some guy did in the confines of a garage.... *shudder*

 

[IGBT]

I use to go to jiffylube till I saw em use a pair of channel locks to remove/tighten drain plugs..no thanks...

 

[godmare]

Originally posted by: snooker
changing oil is one of the easiest things on a vehicle you can do yourself. goto the local auto store andf buy like 7 quarts of oil and a filter. Go home, place a oil catch pan under the car (Under the oil petcock) and remove the oil drain plug. Once it drains let it drip for a few to get it al out. Place the drain plug back in and tighten it. Remove the old oil filter and replace it with the new one. Follow the info on installing the new one (Like rub oil on the gasket before you instal it). Once it is installed remove your oil fill cap under the hood and start by putting 3 quarts back in. Check the dipstick after a few seconds to allow the oil to drain down. Fill and check as needed until it shows on your dipstick in the proper area. Drive for a while, then check it again to make sure it is still up. Once that is done, check your oil everyday before you start the car. That is the best time to check oil since the vehicle was sitting all night.

Or take it to a pro and pay between $35-$50

First off, you didn't mention any engine flush before draining your oil. This becomes more important as the engine ages.
And second, I daresay that driving around with three quarts of oil in your engine is a good way to overheat, if nothing else. Most engines hold (and require) four to five quarts, plus capacity enough for the oil filter.

 

[imprezawrxwagon]

depends on the car

hondas are really easy

and bimmers, some Subas, - very hard to work on

 

[T2T III]

I just feel safe and don't mind paying $35-50 for a professional to do it

If you insist on others changing your oil, you can find other places to do it at more competitive rates. A local service station frequently has a $19.99 special, or $24.99 if it's not on special. I'd rather give my business to a local retailer rather than a local car dealer. However, I do most of the oil changes myself for our vehicles.

 

[Electric Amish]

I do it myself and use Synthetic or Synthetic blend.

amish

 

[StageLeft]

I didn't even know where the oil filter was until last fall when I tried changing my own oil and with the help of a haynes I've done a few extra things. Changing your oil is so freaking easy there is absolutely no point in paying what you just quoted to have it done whereas once you have the ramps and oil wrench purchased you can change it yourself for $10-15 and that includes a good (non synthetic) oil. Synthetic is more, but then it's more if you pay somebody else as well. Just because somebody is a professional doesn't mean they're good; last time I paid to have it changed in the Sentra they overfilled. I can do it better for free!

 

[djheater]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I'm planning to go to the dealer tomorrow to get my oil change/rotating tires.

Ofcoarse as usual my friend is telling me how a man does his own oil change.

I just feel safe and don't mind paying $35-50 for a professional to do it, but maybe if enough people tell me it's easy and safe to do it alone, I'll start.

So... How many of you do your own oil change? What's your experience?

I never pay more than $20

It's not worth more than that to me. Which reminds me. I REALLY need to change my air filter.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Yes

 

[Armitage]

On the truck, it's dead easy, so unless the weather is really ugly when it needs doing, I do it myself. Plus I run synthetic in it which is really expensive through those oil-change places.

My civic is a PITA to get to the filter. Did that once or twice, now it goes to jiffy lube.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I'm planning to go to the dealer tomorrow to get my oil change/rotating tires.

Ofcoarse as usual my friend is telling me how a man does his own oil change.

I just feel safe and don't mind paying $35-50 for a professional to do it, but maybe if enough people tell me it's easy and safe to do it alone, I'll start.

So... How many of you do your own oil change? What's your experience?

That "professional" (even at your dealer) is probably the janitor.



Changing the oil is SO easy. AND cheap . . . and you get a sense of satisfaction doing it yourself. PLUS - if you go to different shops - you usually get a GENERIC filter and oil THEY choose (changing "brands" every 3K miles is not such a good idea).

Get a oil filter WRENCH that fits, a wrench to remove the drain plug, the proper size pan to catch the old oil (and a funnel), and CARDBOARD to lay under the car to catch the drips and LOTS of paper towels. Use a jack to raise the car AND a jack stand to support it while you are under the car . . .

. . . and start saving time and money.

 

[rh71]

I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: rh71
I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

Letsee, $3-5 for the filter and $1.50 a quart would be $12-$14 for 6 quarts AND the auto store you bought the oil must take it back to recycle (at least in Cali).

Where do you get your oil changed for $15? I think I might be "lazy" also for $15 (IF I could 'trust' them not to reuse my old filter and perhaps not overfill [using] the [wrong weight] oil).

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71
I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

Letsee, $3-5 for the filter and $1.50 a quart would be $12-$14 for 6 quarts AND the auto store you bought the oil must take it back to recycle (at least in Cali).

Where do you get your oil changed for $15? I think I might be "lazy" also for $15 (IF I could 'trust' them not to reuse my old filter and perhaps not overfill [using] the [wrong weight] oil).

Meineke Didn't even need to mention a coupon to them... they just rang it up as $15. There's also Mavis Discount Tire (big chain) that does it for around there too... all the time.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71
I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

Letsee, $3-5 for the filter and $1.50 a quart would be $12-$14 for 6 quarts AND the auto store you bought the oil must take it back to recycle (at least in Cali).

Where do you get your oil changed for $15? I think I might be "lazy" also for $15 (IF I could 'trust' them not to reuse my old filter and perhaps not overfill [using] the [wrong weight] oil).

Meineke Didn't even need to mention a coupon to them... they just rang it up as $15. There's also Mavis Discount Tire (big chain) that does it for around there too... all the time.

Oooh, we have a Ferengi here.

SERIOUSLY, post this in Hot Deals.

(or I will)





Actually, that is a good deal. But it boils down to "trust" for me. I prefer to have complete control over what goes into my car and my QC is much better than a shops.

 

[T2T III]

I've done a fair amount of reading recently regarding oil & oil filters. Apparently, the Wal-Mart Super Tech filters are quite good. They are priced at about $2.00 a piece. I'm not sure who makes their Super Tech oil, though. However, the Super Tech oil is only about $.84 a quart.

 

[StageLeft]

Those $15 oil places give you a crappy filter and crappy oil, plus they're often going to hassel you with "a few things you should look at". Suddenly a $15 repair job turns into $250 or else you leave feeling uneasy about all the things on your vehicle that are "broken".

But if you want a good filter and good oil those $15 places will jack it up. I was quoted by express oil change $39 for a filter and valvoline max life in my sentra. Wtf. The thing needs 4 quarts - that's under $8 if I buy that oil myself, and I can get a filter for a few bucks. I change it myself for about $12 with good oil, vs their $39.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Those $15 oil places give you a crappy filter and crappy oil, plus they're often going to hassel you with "a few things you should look at". Suddenly a $15 repair job turns into $250 or else you leave feeling uneasy about all the things on your vehicle that are "broken".

But if you want a good filter and good oil those $15 places will jack it up. I was quoted by express oil change $39 for a filter and valvoline max life in my sentra. Wtf. The thing needs 4 quarts - that's under $8 if I buy that oil myself, and I can get a filter for a few bucks. I change it myself for about $12 with good oil, vs their $39.

Actually, the MaxLife oil does cost a little more. I think it's slightly over $2.00 per quart. However, $39.00 for the process probably included topping off your fluids and washing your windows, too.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71
I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

Letsee, $3-5 for the filter and $1.50 a quart would be $12-$14 for 6 quarts AND the auto store you bought the oil must take it back to recycle (at least in Cali).

Where do you get your oil changed for $15? I think I might be "lazy" also for $15 (IF I could 'trust' them not to reuse my old filter and perhaps not overfill [using] the [wrong weight] oil).

Meineke Didn't even need to mention a coupon to them... they just rang it up as $15. There's also Mavis Discount Tire (big chain) that does it for around there too... all the time.

Oooh, we have a Ferengi here.

SERIOUSLY, post this in Hot Deals.

(or I will)





Actually, that is a good deal. But it boils down to "trust" for me. I prefer to have complete control over what goes into my car and my QC is much better than a shops.

Posted there.. then I saw you did it too..

 

[StageLeft]

$39.00 for the process probably included topping off your fluids and washing your windows, too.

Probably did, but the fluids were fine and my windows I don't care about

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: rh71
I read that it costs almost the same for parts anyway... (I need almost 6 quarts in my truck).. and you have to dispose of the old oil somewhere...

I think paying $15 for someone else to handle it is just fine with me...

If it cost almost double, I'd definitely get right under there myself... but it doesn't.

Letsee, $3-5 for the filter and $1.50 a quart would be $12-$14 for 6 quarts AND the auto store you bought the oil must take it back to recycle (at least in Cali).

Where do you get your oil changed for $15? I think I might be "lazy" also for $15 (IF I could 'trust' them not to reuse my old filter and perhaps not overfill [using] the [wrong weight] oil).

Meineke Didn't even need to mention a coupon to them... they just rang it up as $15. There's also Mavis Discount Tire (big chain) that does it for around there too... all the time.

Oooh, we have a Ferengi here.

SERIOUSLY, post this in Hot Deals.

(or I will)





Actually, that is a good deal. But it boils down to "trust" for me. I prefer to have complete control over what goes into my car and my QC is much better than a shops.

DONE (and thanx) AWEsome for lazy people who don't mind cheap oil and a crappy filter.

 

[vi edit]

I used to have a dealer do my GM cars for $17 a pop. I couldn't beat the price and convenience.

Now that I own a VW though, the cheapest I can have it done for is $30. I can do it myself for $15. I do it myself. Same goes for my Camry because it's so damn easy. My Passat is a PITA though - I have to take this big plastic shield off the bottom of the car. There's about 8 screws that you have to undo to take it off. Putting it back on is MUCH more aggrivating.

 

[0roo0roo]

my local guy does it for about 25 bux. i don't feel like figuring out how to dispose of oil, i know it needs pickup.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
I used to have a dealer do my GM cars for $17 a pop. I couldn't beat the price and convenience.

Now that I own a VW though, the cheapest I can have it done for is $30. I can do it myself for $15. I do it myself. Same goes for my Camry because it's so damn easy. My Passat is a PITA though - I have to take this big plastic shield off the bottom of the car. There's about 8 screws that you have to undo to take it off. Putting it back on is MUCH more aggrivating.

Change those screws to "snaps" or velcro.

 

[SnapIT]

Originally posted by: Kenji4861
I'm planning to go to the dealer tomorrow to get my oil change/rotating tires.

Ofcoarse as usual my friend is telling me how a man does his own oil change.

I just feel safe and don't mind paying $35-50 for a professional to do it, but maybe if enough people tell me it's easy and safe to do it alone, I'll start.

So... How many of you do your own oil change? What's your experience?

oil change, oil filter, air filter, sparkplugs, *whatever those parts of the ignition are called in english* change, fuel filter change... i do it twice a year...

and i do use the used oil as a meter of wear and tear...